Probe underway into funding of Batticaloa Campus; FCID tells court

The Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) informed the Chief Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne yesterday (Jul 18) that it is investigating into the funds received for the controversial Batticaloa Campus in the East.

The campus, which is the brainchild of former Eastern Governor M.L.A.M. Hizbullah, had been constructed on a funding of USD 100 million from a banned Saudi organisation, FCID told court.

During a court hearing, the FCID said that it was investigating as to whether the funds were used for the university or for financing terrorist activities.

Court heard that investigations had commenced after parliamentarian Ven Athuraliye Rathana Thero had filed a police complaint in this regard.

Accordingly, a probe is underway to determine whether any offence had been committed under the Money Laundering Act.

Meanwhile, the FCID also said it is conducting a probe into the incident during which Hizbullah had met with a group of Saudi nationals at a hotel in Pasikuda on April 22 when a police curfew was in effect.